See Ancient Rome and the Colosseum by night on this exciting 2.5-hour evening tour, led by an expert local guide! Hear little-known facts about the Roman Forum’s ruins as you look at it from a vantage point at Piazza del Campidoglio, and then gain rare access to the Colosseum after dark, walking around its arena floor and underground chambers. Taking place when the city’s daytime crowds have dispersed and the balmy temperature has dropped, your tour is perfectly timed to see these word-class monuments at their bedazzling best.

Numbers are limited to 25 on this small-group tour ensuring you’ll see these top Rome attractions with personalized attention from your guide.

Highlights

2.5-hour Ancient Rome and Colosseum by night tour

Sightsee in the cooler evening temperatures and see Rome’s top attractions without the busy daytime crowds

Gaze down at the Roman Forum from a vantage point at Piazza del Campidoglio

Walk around the Colosseum’s reconstructed arena floor, in the space where gladiator battles were fought

Visit the underground chambers and hear tales of the wild animals that were caged here

Small-group tour with a maximum of 25 people ensures a more personalized experience

we were the first group to arrive - and our tour guide suggested we enter the stage in silence to fully appreciate the ...

Photo by: Jennifer G
10
2014

Entrance hallway to the ...

So amazing at night... so quiet and peaceful.

Photo by: Jennifer G
10
2014

Inside the Colosseum

sitting on an ancient column

Photo by: Jennifer G
10
2014

Colosseum

By the time you reach the Colosseum, it's dark (I went in September).

Photo by: Jennifer G
10
2014

inside the Colosseum at night

Taken in the underground chambers

Photo by: Michael H
08
2014

Colosseum by Night 1.jpg

View of the Colosseum

Photo by: Sandra
08
2013

Colosseum by Night 2.jpg

Walking in the underground chambers

Photo by: Sandra
08
2013

Colosseum by Night 5.jpg

Piazza Venezia

Photo by: Sandra
08
2013

What You Can Expect

Enjoy the view of the Roman Forum illuminated at night!

Meet your guide in the early evening at Piazza Venezia in central Rome, and set off on your leisurely paced evening walking tour. Stroll past Trajan’s Column, the triumphal column that was built to celebrate a Dacian War victory, and head to Capitoline Hill to visit Piazza del Campidoglio – a lavish 16th-century square designed by the Renaissance supremo Michelangelo.

The Roman Forum is closed at night, but your guide will lead you to a little-known vantage point in Piazza del Campidoglio that offers a perfect vista of the site. Watch the soft evening light set on the city’s ancient monuments, seeing all the notable ruins, like the Sanctuary of Vestal Virgins – a temple that was once home to Rome’s most revered women.

See Caesar’s and Augustus’ forums as you walk down the hill, and then stop outside the highlight of your tour – the Colosseum. Basking in its Roman-era glory, the city’s undisputed A-list attraction is virtually empty at this time of night, leaving the ancient structure filled with shadows rather than shuffling feet. Walk around the reconstructed arena floor, and stand in the space where battles were once fought, while hearing all the little-known details of the gladiator games from your guide. Little of the original arena floor still exists, but the gaps in the surface offer a great vantage point to the underground levels below.

Then, head below ground to see the chambers for yourself, working your way through the tunnels where gladiators and beasts walked before being hoisted to the arena floor via trap doors. Few visitors to the Colosseum get to walk through these chambers, as they are only open to a limited number of people per day; even better, you’ll be one of a very select few to see the chambers at night, making this visit even more exciting.

Customer Reviews

Truly amazing to see the underground area with only a few other people in the area! We had a very informative guide - I learned a lot of history and was able to imagine what it was really like when the gladiators were preparing for the games. I also really enjoyed the history of the Forum and the various structures from each ruler. This is a tour not to be missed!

I saw the Coliseum several years ago, and this is by far the best way to visit. Not only does the tour happen in the evening when the summer temperatures are not so brutal, but there are no crowds, allowing you to really take in the space and get some great pictures. Be forwarded. We were less than 5 minutes late due to our plane being delayed into Rome, and we had to beg our way into the tour. Several others mentioned the same thing in other reviews and its no joke. In a city that is difficult to travel in, make sure you are there with plenty of time. You dont want to miss this tour.

This was a very thorough tour, inclusive of the Roman Forum, loads of history beginning with Trajan's Column, and ending with a wonderful evening tour of the Colosseum. Our archaeologist-leader, Christina, was as knowledgeable as they come, very kind, and kept the pacing going comfortably. I get why they say that strollers and wheelchairs cannot be accommodated--their were a couple of steep hikes up stairs, and the walking is over 10,000 steps, but the evening breeze and lack of sweltering sun keeps the tour enjoyable. My family loved having the Colosseum all to ourselves at this hour, and it's not too dark for awesome photo opps! This was a highlight of our Roman holiday! We learned so much! :

Awesome experience, the Colosseum has a very different feel to it at night time which is worth experiencing. Not only do you get to see a different perspective of the site, but you are also out of the heat and dealing with absolutely no crowds.

We visited the colosseum earlier on the same day on our own - and the contrast to the after hours tour is incredible. This tour is worth every dollar. The dungeons are amazing, but have the colosseum virtually to yourself is priceless. We enjoyed every second. We visited the dungeons, ground floor and first tier - as well as the museum of level 1. I felt like we didn't miss anything by taking the evening tour... in fact, I think it's the best way to do it! Our guide did seem a little unsure/uneducated on a number of facts... but that didn't detract from the end experience at all :

Perfect amount of time to make it through all of the important highlights of this ruin. Our guide was super informative and kept a good pace. We were so grateful that this tour was not in the heat of the day. The evening breeze was welcomed as we enjoyed the views.

Unfortunately wheelchair users or customers requiring special assistance cannot be accommodated on this tour. Strollers can also not be taken on the tour

Important: Please note that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Only very small bags are allowed. Please do not bring these items with you on the day of your tour as there are no cloakrooms at the Colosseum

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